Wireless network tour guide

ABSTRACT

Location based wireless services in a service provider&#39;s network are intertwined with a message database (text and/or audio) to automatically provide location information regarding the subscriber to the message database, without requiring the wireless device itself to provide the location information. A location management system is provided to perform the location management functions of determining subscriber location (e.g., by call/sector ID, angle of arrival (AOA), time difference of arrival (TDOA), time of arrival (TOA)), and of mapping the location to the desired text and/or audio. Speed information may also be determined by the location management system, or the subscriber may be prompted to input a particular mode of transportation, or generally indicate their speed. Of course, the slower the speed of the subscriber, the fewer location updates will be required, lessening the burden on the tour guide system in the wireless network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to the field of wirelesstelecommunications. More particularly, it relates to a system and methodfor implementing a tour guide system in a wireless phone network.

[0003] 2. Background of Related Art

[0004] Conventional wireless tour guide systems are typically localsystems, e.g., walkie-talkies. For instance, currently existingsolutions use a specialized walkie-talkie device and an in-houseinformation database to retrieve information for users based on keypadinput then transmit analog voice bites using short range walkie-talkietechnologies. The walkie-talkies are typically rented and returned ateach tourist location of interest.

[0005] Such walkie-talkie type systems typically require manual inputfrom the user, e.g., via keypad entry, which is sent to the content end,which then determines which sound bite to retrieve, download in returnand play.

[0006] Other tour guide systems require location information to be inputby a user, or determined by equipment such as a global positioningsatellite (GPS) receiver in the mobile unit, using a dial-up connectionthrough the public switched telephone network (PSTN) for selecting anddownloading analog voice information. For instance, U.S. Pat. No.6,199,045 to Giniger et al. (“Giniger”) teaches the provision ofposition-related information by mobile devices uploaded to a centralcite server. The central cite server uses the received positioninformation sent by the mobile device, retrieves corresponding responseinformation from a table, and plays the retrieved response informationover a telephone line back to the mobile unit. (See, e.g., GinigerAbstract and FIG. 5).

[0007] Just as in the conventional walkie-talkie systems, systems suchas Giniger require location information to be determined and/or provideddirectly by the mobile device to a central server over the PSTN. Forinstance, as Giniger explains, a global positioning satellite (GPS) inthe mobile device itself determines a location of the subscriber, whichis uploaded to the central cite server over the PSTN for direction as tothe desired sound bite to be retrieved and downloaded back to the mobiledevice via the PSTN.

[0008] While these tour guide systems are useful, they require eithercostly specialized components (e.g., a GPS receiver), or manual inputfrom the user, requiring the user to look away from their touristattraction. These disadvantages either increase costs of the touristheld devices and/or generally distract the user from the overall tourguide experience.

[0009] There is a need for a tour guide system which does not requirecostly specialized components, and/or importantly which does not requirelocation information to be uploaded directly by the mobile deviceitself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A method of providing tour guide information in a wirelessnetwork in accordance with the principles of the present inventioncomprises the usage of an existing location determination service, andidentifying a short message relating to the location or identifying avoice interaction via an Interactive Voice Response Unit (IVRU). Theidentified short message is transmitted to the subscriber substantiallywhile the subscriber remains at the determined location. Depending onthe change of location of the subscriber, which in turn depends on thespeed of the mode of transportation, location update information can beobtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the following description withreference to the drawings, in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 shows a wireless network tour guide application resident inan SCP of a carrier's wireless intelligent network, in accordance withthe principles of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 depicts various embodiments of a location determiner shownin FIG. 1.

[0014]FIG. 3 shows an exemplary message flow between a wireless networktour guide system and a relevant wireless device, in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 4 shows an exemplary message flow showing the use of a ShortMessage by a wireless network tour guide system, in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0016] In accordance with the principles of the present invention,location based wireless services in a service provider's network arecommissioned and intertwined with a message database (text and/or audio)to automatically provide location information regarding the subscriberto the message database, without requiring the wireless device itself toprovide the location information.

[0017] The present invention utilizes location based wireless technologyin a wireless network to automate a tour guide process with respect to awireless device.

[0018]FIG. 1 shows a wireless network tour guide application resident inan SCP of a carrier's wireless intelligent network, in accordance withthe principles of the present invention.

[0019] In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, an SCP 170 of a carrier'swireless intelligent network 120 is adapted to include a wirelessnetwork tour guide manager application 100. The tour guide manager viathe “Interactive Voice Response Unit (IVRU)” 100 periodically requestslocation information relating to a predefined “point of interest”, e.g.,relating to a place of historical or geographical importance, withrespect to a particular subscriber requesting tour guide information.Using the location information obtained automatically within a wirelessnetwork 120, the tour guide manager 100 obtains tour guide informationrelated to that location.

[0020] In particular, the tour guide manager 100 communicates with alocation management system 160, a location determiner 130, and a speeddeterminer 140, all in the wireless carrier's network. The wirelessnetwork 120 of the disclosed embodiment further includes a Short MessageService Center (SMSC) 150, Message Servicing Center (MSC) with VisitorsLocation Register (VLR) 190 and Home Location Register (HLR) 180.

[0021] The wireless network tour guide 100 in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention utilizes location informationdetermined by a location determiner 130 to determine a proximatelocation of a wireless user, and then uses that location information toretrieve text and/or voice information from a tour guide informationdatabase 105.

[0022]FIG. 2 depicts various embodiments of a location determiner 130shown in FIG. 1.

[0023] In particular, as shown in FIG. 2, the location determiner 130and location management system 160 perform the location managementfunctions of determining subscriber location. Exemplary techniquesimplemented in the location determiner 130 are call/sector ID 131, angleof arrival (AOA) 132, time difference of arrival (TDOA) 130, time ofarrival (TOA) 134, all of which are otherwise known in the art.

[0024] Returning to FIG. 1, location information is determined by thelocation determiner 130 at the wireless network (not in the wirelessdevice) and provided to the wireless network tour guide 100, which inturn maps the location information to desired text and/or audioinformation, e.g., via a short message. While the desired tour guidetext and/or audio information is provided to the wireless device 125 viaa short message in the disclosed embodiment, the present inventionrelates equally to the provision of text and/or audio informationoutside a short messaging system.

[0025] Speed information may optionally be determined by the locationmanagement system of the wireless network 120, to augment the tour guideexperience. For instance, the slower the speed of the subscriber, thefewer location updates will be required, lessening the burden on thetour guide manager 100 in the wireless network.

[0026] The speed determiner may determine speed of a wireless device(e.g., walking tour, driving tour, flying tour, etc.) inferentially. Forinstance, a location and time history may be maintained by the locationmanagement system 160 with respect to particular subscribers utilizingthe wireless network tour guide 100. A generalized determination ofspeed may be sufficient for many applications, e.g., whether thewireless device acts as if it is consistent with a walking subscriber,driving subscriber, biking subscriber, flying subscriber, etc.

[0027] The subscriber utilizing the wireless network tour guide 100 mayalternatively be prompted by the wireless network tour guide 100 tomanually (or audibly) input a particular mode of transportation,generally indicate whether their speed is less than or greater than agiven speed, e.g., less than 5 miles/hour (e.g., walking) or more than 5miles/hour (e.g., biking, driving, etc.) As a result, if the speed ofthe wireless device is less than 5 miles/hour, the interval betweenlocation update requests by the location management system 160 andwireless network tour guide 100 can be enlarged.

[0028] Voice recognition may be implemented in the carrier's wirelessnetwork 120 (e.g., accessible to the SCP 170) to simplify a user's inputof relevant information, e.g., in navigating through the IVR menu. Forinstance, a user can speak the name or other identifying feature of thepoint of interest to obtain faster information.

[0029]FIG. 3 shows an exemplary message flow between a wireless networktour guide system and a relevant wireless device, in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention, to provide voice based information.

[0030] In particular, when the particular subscriber is ready to make acall, the option for the tour guide service may be provided as shown inthe call flow diagram of FIG. 3.

[0031] The messages shown in the call flow diagram of FIG. 3 arespecific to GSM CAMEL Phase 2. But any protocol (e.g ANSI41, WINstandards) can be used to provide the same functionality.

[0032] In FIG. 3, messages are passed between a Service SwitchingFunction (SSF)/Service Resource Function (SRF) 310, a VLR 320, an HLR330, a Service Control Function (SCF) 340, and a Location ManagementFunction (LMF) 350.

[0033] The SSF/SRF 310 refers to a wireless network including a wirelessnetwork tour guide manager 100 and related location/tour guidefunctionality, e.g., as shown and described with respect to FIG. 1.

[0034] The LMF 350 refers to the location management system 160, whichprovides tour guidance information, and to the wireless network tourguide manager 100, which maps the location of the wireless deviceprovided by the SCF 340. The location information determined by thewireless network 120 can be as approximate or accurate as possible,based upon the particular application and needs. Of course, theparticular location determination technique 131-134 implemented in thelocation determiner 130 will largely dictate the accuracy of thelocation of the touring subscriber.

[0035] As shown in message 1 of FIG. 3, an InitialDP message is sent bythe SSF/SRF 310 to the wireless network tour guide manager 100, toindicate the desirability of a particular subscriber to activate tourguidance. The dialed digits preferably relate to a particular activationcode for tour guidance.

[0036] In message 2, a connection to the wireless network tour guidemanager 100 is established by the relevant wireless device 125.

[0037] In message 3, an announcement may be played to the subscriber125, e.g., welcoming them to the tour guide mode.

[0038] In message 4, user information is collected by the wirelessnetwork tour guide manager 100 (e.g., authorization to receive tourguidance, etc.) In message 5, the subscriber is prompted for a “Yes”indication, indicating their desire to receive tour guidanceinformation.

[0039] In message 6, an AnyTimeInterrogation message is transmittedbetween the SCF 340 and the HLR 330.

[0040] In message 7, a ProvideSubscriberInformation signal istransmitted by the HLR 330 to the VLR 320 (for roaming subscribers).

[0041] In message 8, a ProvideSubscriberInformationAck signal isreturned by the VLR 320 to the HLR 330 (for roaming subscribers).

[0042] In message 9, location information relating to the relevanttouring subscriber is passed by the HLR 330 to the SCF 340.

[0043] In message 10, the subscriber's location is provided by the SCF340 to the LMF 350.

[0044] Message(s) 11 map the subscriber's location and determine thedesired text and/or audio tour guide information.

[0045] In message 12, the result is returned by the LMF 350 to the SCF340 with an acknowledgement.

[0046] In message 13, the tour guidance is transmitted from the SCF 340to the wireless device and displayed and/or played.

[0047] The present invention provides many advantages to both thewireless network service provider as well as their subscribers. Forinstance, the implementation of a tour guide manager 100 within awireless network saves consumers money, as they need not hire a personaltour guide when moving about a new city. Moreover, the subscriber's cantour at their own pace, with the location management system 160automatically determining the pace of movement of the subscriber(without the need for manual input from the touring subscriber). Thewireless manager tour guide 100 has the ability to integrate tourguidance with wireless devices which already are in the possession ofmany people, and thus historical knowledge can be made a part of oureveryday lives.

[0048] From the perspective of the service provider, use of a wirelessdevice for tour guidance has the ability to increase minutes of use bytheir subscribers, and thus can lead directly to increased revenues.

[0049] With respect to a roaming subscriber, the roaming subscriberpreferably receives tour guide information from the Carrier providingservice.

[0050] Use of location-based services, rather than a locationdetermining technique or apparatus at the wireless device itself, savescosts in the wireless devices (e.g., no GPS receiver required), and/oras compared to conventional walkie-talkie type tour guide systems,provides automated determination of the location of the subscriberwithout bother to the user them self.

[0051] A pause and update button may be implemented in the wirelessdevice, or a particular key sequence on the standard keypad of a mobilephone, may be used to pause active provision of the tour guideinformation so as to save battery power by suspension of positionupdates and provide general convenience to the user, which would beapplicable to a voice based application. A pause feature could also beapplicable to an SMS based application.

[0052]FIG. 4 shows an exemplary message flow showing the use of a ShortMessage by a wireless network tour guide system, in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

[0053] In particular, as shown in FIG. 4, a call originated by the amobile subscriber is used to start the SMS service (the dialed digitsrelate to a activation code for tour guidance). An InitialDP message issent by the SSF to the wireless network tour guide manager, to indicatethe desirability of a particular subscriber to activate tour guidance.

[0054] Location information relating to the relevant touring subscriberis passed by the HLR to the SCF or can be obtained from the InitialDPmessage (or Origination Request(ORREQ) message in case of an ANSInetwork).

[0055] The tour guidance is transmitted from the SCF to the wirelessdevice via a short message and displayed. Steps 10 to 17 can be repeateduntil all information is delivered. While the present invention has beendescribed with respect to audio guidance, the principles of the presentinvention relate equally to tour guidance given over a wireless phoneusing short messaging a short text message of, e.g., no more than 255characters at each point of guidance. The short messaging may becombined with audio passages based on the particular application.

[0056] While the invention has been described with reference to theexemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be able tomake various modifications to the described embodiments of the inventionwithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of providing tour guide information in awireless network, comprising: using a location-based wireless service toobtain a location of a subscriber using wireless or cellular networksignaling; identifying a short message relating to said location; andtransmitting said identified short message to said subscribersubstantially while said subscriber remains at said determined location.2. The method of providing tour guide information in a wireless networkaccording to claim 1, further comprising: determining a speed of saidsubscriber.
 3. The method of providing tour guide information in awireless network according to claim 1, further comprising: altering alength of said identified short message based on a speed of saidsubscriber resulting in said subscriber leaving said location before apresentation of said short message is completed.
 4. The method ofproviding tour guide information in a wireless network according toclaim 1, wherein: said short message is maintained in a short messagingsystem.
 5. The method of providing tour guide information in a wirelessnetwork according to claim 1, wherein: said location of said subscriberis determined using an angle of arrival of a wireless signal from saidsubscriber.
 6. The method of providing tour guide information in awireless network according to claim 1, wherein: said location of saidsubscriber is determined using a time difference of arrival of wirelesssignals from said subscriber.
 7. The method of providing tour guideinformation in a wireless network according to claim 1, wherein: saidlocation of said subscriber is determined using time of arrival of awireless signal from said subscriber.
 8. The method of providing tourguide information in a wireless network according to claim 1, wherein:said location of said subscriber is determined using the known locationof a cell/sector servicing said subscriber.
 9. Apparatus for providingtour guide information in a wireless network, comprising: means forobtaining a location-based wireless service a location of a subscriber;means for identifying a short message relating to said location; andmeans for transmitting said identified short message to said subscribersubstantially while said subscriber remains at said determined location.10. The apparatus for providing tour guide information in a wirelessnetwork according to claim 9, further comprising: means for determininga speed of said subscriber.
 11. The apparatus for providing tour guideinformation in a wireless network according to claim 9, furthercomprising: means for altering a length of said identified short messagebased on a speed of said subscriber resulting in said subscriber leavingsaid location before a presentation of said short message is completed.12. The apparatus for providing tour guide information in a wirelessnetwork according to claim 9, further comprising: a short messagingsystem to maintain said short message.